A car battery is a rechargeable battery that supplies a car with electricity to run, and can also be called the SLI battery (which stands for starting, lighting, ignition). A car's battery receives its primary draw of energy from turning over the engine when starting a car. Once this is accomplished, the car's alternator takes over and powers the car while recharging the battery. Standard car batteries are 12-volt, lead-acid batteries with six connection cells that are filled with sulfuric acid as an electrolyte to generate electrical current.http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/techcenter/articles/43835/article.html

The average car battery has a somewhat short life, lasting on average just 6 to 48 months.http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html Replacement batteries for cars can range in cost from $50 to $200, depending on the type of battery needed and where the battery is purchased from.http://www.sears.com/shc/s/s_10153_12605_Automotive_Batteries+%26+Chargers_Automotive+Batteries When purchasing a car battery, shoppers should know the size and power of battery needed for their vehicle, and should consider warranty offers.

Experts should always be employed to install new batteries, unless the person doing the job has thorough knowledge about how to handle batteries safely. Serious injury can result from mishandling car batteries.http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/4213127

There are seven different standard types of lead-acid batteries on the market: Wet/flooded batteries, MF batteries, calcium-calcium batteries, VRLA batteries, GEL batteries, AGM batteries, and hybrid batteries.

Wet/Flooded Battery -

The most commonly used of these is the wet or flooded battery, which is simple in design and low in cost. The MF (maintenance-free) battery is much like the flooded battery, except that it comes in a battery box to seal in gases.

Calcium-Calcium Battery -

Calcium-calcium batteries are an advancement from the previous two and minimize fluid loss by 80% compared to the others, meaning they can be unused for longer without losing too much charge.

VRLA Battery -

VRLA (valve regulated lead-acid) batteries employs the same type of battery box as the MF, but it has a safety valve that greatly reduced fluid loss.

GEL Battery -

GEL batteries are a form of VRLAs, but are unique in that there are silicon compounds added to the acid to make sure no flooded acid can leak out. Typically, GEL batteries are used for golf carts and floor cleaning machines. AGM batteries are also a type of VRLA that keeps acid from leaking by using a fiberglass separator mat.http://www.driverstechnology.co.uk/car-batteries.htm